mills



No. 6I4,6|8. Patent-ed Nov. 22, |898. M. B. MILLS.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application iled May 7, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 6|4.6l8. Patented Nov. 22. |898. M. B. MILLS.

G01N DPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 7, 1898.)

(No'Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Zz'fef/ N y ,5206/221021 Patented Nov. 22, |898.

M. B. MILLS.

COIN OPEBATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed May '7, 1898.)

5 'Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented' Nov. 22, |898. M. B. MILLS.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application led May '7, 189B.) (No Model.)

5 Shasta-Sheet 4.

9 2f@ J WW No. s|4,is. Patented Nov.' 22, 1:39a.

` M. B. MILLS. I

com UP'EBATED vl-:NnlNG MACHINE. (Applicatn tiled May 7, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shet 5.

MSS S UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

MORTIMEE n. MILLS, OE CI-IICAeO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To TI-IE MILLS NOVELTY COMPANY, OE SAME PLACE.

COIN-OPERATED VENDlNG-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,618, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed May '7, 1898. Serial No. 680,046. (No model.)

To all whom, zit/71mg concern.'

Be it known that I, MORTIMER B. MILLS, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Operated Vending-Machines, Ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of vending-machines in which the articles to be sold are contained in the machine subject to delivery by mechanism which is normally inoperative and which Inay only be rendered operative through the medium of an inserted coin of predetermined denomination representing the purchase price of the article sought to be delivered.

My improved machine may be used for vending any of various articles, and Inay, without departure from my invention, be adapted for different articles by changing the forms of parts to those best-suited for the particular purpose. I have more particularly devised the present machine, however, for cigars, and for that reason and to avoid prolixity the following description is confined to the machine as especially adapted for that purpose and itis so shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows the machine by a View in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; Fig. 23, a plan View; Fig. 4, a section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 2 and Viewed in 'the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5, a section taken at the line 5 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, but omitting the circularcontining-flange hereinafter referred to; Fig. G, a transverse vertical section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow and enlarged; Fig. 7, a broken section taken at the line 7 on Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow and enlarged, showing the discharge-chute through which the delivery is effected; Fig. 8, a section taken at the line 8 on Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Figi), a section taken at the line 9 ou Fig. G and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. l0, asection taken at the line lO on Fig. S and viewed in the dih rection of the arrow; and Fig. l1, a sectional view showing the rotary coin-operated disk and the disk for actuating it in front elevation.

A is a basefrom which there rises the main case of the machine, comprising a neck B, surmounted by a hollow head C, shown as of general disk shape though of angular contour with a circular face C', covered with glass C2. The head and neck, both of which may be of wood or any other suitable material, are formed in two corresponding front and rear sections r and r, the front section being rigid on the base and the rear section being hinged tol the base immediately behind the front section to close against it when'raised, in which position it may be fastened by side hooks q and a top hasp q', respectively engaging pins q2 on the sides of the front section and a staple g3 on the top thereof. The head portion of each section r and r' contains a cir-v cular chamber, and the neck portion of the section r' is also chambered, whereby when the sections are closed together they form the two intercommunioating head and neck chambers p and p'. The section r of the neck B contains a U-shaped recess p2 and below the same a rectangular opening p3. From the center of the back of the head C there projects horizontally into the chamber p a stud o, on which is j ournaled at its hub a cog-wheel D. A stud 0/ projects into the chamber p' from the back of the neck B, and has journaled upon it in said chamber a pinion D', meshing with the cog-wheel D, to which it bears a certain proportionate relation. As shown, the proportion is four to one. Y

E is a container or box for the articles to be vended-in the present case cigars X. I form the bok` of pasteboard', though it may be composed of any other suitable material; It is of disk shape,- being constructed of two disks spaced apart at equal intervals by radial partitions t into chambers fn, each of which should be provided with a base t at the proper depth. The box E is centered on the hub of the'wheel D, to which it is fastened to revolve therewith. The cigars in the chambers a are confined against egress from thc open ends in the periphery of the box by a circular-flange n', extending about ythe circumferential plane of the box from the rear section o" of the head C. At a suitable point in the circular confining-flange `n' is an opening n2, the width of which should correspond with the width of each chamber n, and from which there extends a discharge-chute n3 ont through and along the side of the neck B. Thus whichever chamber in the box is brought coincident with the opening n2 will be emptied of the cigar it contains, which will discharge out of the machine through the chute n3 for delivery.

In the use of the box E separately from the vending-machine for the supply of the articles to be vended the periphery should be surrounded with means, such as a readilyremovable band` or strip of paper or the like, (not shown,) to close the mouths of the chambers n for confining therein their contents.

For the purposes of ornamentation and to indicate the contents and suggest the use of the box E its face has marked upon it, in radial series corresponding with the chambers n, representations of the contents-tl1l1s, of cigars, as shown at o in Fig. l.

The coin-controlled delivery mechanism is contained in a case F, fastened to the base A in front of the neck B and covering the pinion D. As shown, the case F is of general arch shape, openfor uncovered at its base and back, at which latter it is applied to the front side of the neck-section B to cover the recess p2 and opening p3, being fastened to the neck by screws entering internally-threaded lugs n; on the opposite inner sides of the case. The front of the case is shown as having a disk-shapedsection m stamped in it to bulge it out or chamber it, and this section contains an arc-shaped slot m, covered with glass 'nand serving the purpose hereinafter described. From the center of the outer face of the section fm there projects a hollow nipple m3 affording a bearing for a rotary stem l', carrying at its outer end a handle Z. At its inner end the stem 7 carries looselya disk 7c, provided with a central protuberance 7c', having a T-shaped rearward-projecting stem [tithe cross-head of which coincides with and is adapted to en ter, through the recess or openin g p2, a transverse slot 7i;3 in the face of the hub of the pinion D. Between the disk 7s and the front of the case F the stem Z' carries, to rotate with it, a narrower disk 7a4, having a curved projection h5 on its periphery and a radial arm 7o, terminating at its outer end, at the periphery of the disk 7.9, in a laterally-extending curved finger k7, provided at its extremity with a stud or short bar 708, extending at a right angle to the finger across the periphery of the disk 7o. The end of the finger 7.37 is con caved, as shown at 75 in Fig. l1, to supplement the concave curve in the projection 705, adjacent to which it reaches. The disk 7a lits about the circular depression afforded by the section 'm and is confined in place at points near its periphery by clips s. Above the disk 7.; is fastened to the inner surface of the front of the case F an arc-shaped bart", conforming to the arc described by the disk and affording between the bar, the periphery of l the disk kt, the disk 7u, and the diskshaped section m (including the portion thereof covered by the glass m2) an arc-shaped coinchamber t, having its inlet at Iwadjacent to one end of the bar t" and its outlet at lw adjacent to the opposite end of the bar. At equal intervals about the disk 7c it carries, beyond the disk 754, pins 7L, passing through it to project from its opposite sides, and the interval between the pins (which should, as shown in Fig. ll, each be flattened on the opposite sides of the part which projects beyond the front side of the disk 7.; into the chamber QT) to correspond with the diameter of the coin 'G for operating the machine.

II is a coin-chute extending from the top of the case F inside the latter down to the inlet w to the coin-chamber 2, into which the chute discharges from the side, and I is a removable coin receptacle or drawer which fits in the opening p3 and may be withdrawn on lowering the section r of the main case on its hinges.

K is a bell-crank lever fulcrumed at its angle on a bearing g, projecting from the fronof the case and controlled by a spring f, cont nected with one arm of the lever. The other arm e of the bell-crank lever is expanded toward its end and curved convexly at its extremity and on one edge and concavely on the opposite inner edge. The arm e projects normally between its extremity and concave edge between the pair of pins 7L in its path on the disk 7b'. Another bell-crank lever L, also ful crumed at its angle on the bearing g, is controlled by a spring f', connected with one arm. The other arm c7 of this bell-crank terminates in a head c7', having a cam edge (74, below which the neck portion should be somewhat curved, as shown at (Z5. Across the head d there extends a stop-flange d2, normally adjacent to a pin 7i, and from one edge of the arm (Z there projects a stop-finger d to engage with the protnberance 7c for limiting the throw of the lever.

The disk 7131 is controlled to return it to normal position when the handle Z is released by a spring f2, connected with the stud or bar 7.18 on the nger 757.

The operation is as follows: By turning the cigar-containing rotary box E each time the month of one of its chambers n passes the opening n2 in the circumferential flange 'a' a cigar X discharges from that chamber and is delivered through the chute n3. To turn the box, however, the wheel D must be turned by rotating the pinion D', and to rotate the pinion the disk 7s must be turned. The disk 7c, however, being loose on its bearing, will not rotate by operating the handle 7 to turn the disk 7a4 unless there be provided a connection between these two disks. This connection is afforded by a coin G in the following-described manner: A coin of proper de-l nomination representing the purchase-price IOO IIO

is inserted into the slot leading to the chute II, down which it rolls, passing into the glasscovered opening m, in which any bogus or improper coin may be easily detected by being presented to view. At the inner side of the chute, near its lower end, the coin rolls out into the chamber t' -at the entrance l1r, where it is in the path of the concaved end of the finger' 707 (see Fig. 1l) and concaved edge of the projection 705 on the disk 7a, By then turning the operating-handle 7 the disk 7a4 and with it the finger k7 are turned, causing the projection 7t5 and finger 7uT to bear against the coin in their path and force it against the pin h ahead of it on the disk 7s. 'Ihus the disk 7s is turned theextent provided for by the throw of the handle and correspondingly turns the pinion D', and thus the wheel D, to turn the circular box E till one of its chambers a coincides with the chute `n3 and is evacuated through it.

The stud or bar 798 on the end ofthe finger 767 always extends across and bears against the outer edge of the arm d of the bell-crank L, and in the normal position of the parts.

this stud or bar is in the path of the arm c. of the bell-crank K and obstructs it against movement from the pair of pins h, between which it protrudes, whereby that arm serves norm ally as a lock to prevent accidental turning of the disk 7a. Vhen, however, after inserting the coin, the finger 707 is turned by turning the disk 7a4, the stud ks is removed from the path of the bell-crank arm e to enable the\turning of the disk to turn it on its fulcrum out of the path of the pin 7L, which rides against its concave edge and pushes the arm e away, and as soon as that pin has cleared the arm e the controlling-spring f returns said arm between that pin 71 and the one immediately behind it. Meantime, however, the stud 7:8 will have ridden along the outer edge of the arm c7 of the bell-crank L, and by the time it has cleared the arm c it will have encountered the curved neck portion d5 of the arm d, thereby turning the latter inward (toward the center ofthe disk 7c) and bringing the stop-flange C72 on the head of that arm over and in the path of the adjacent pin 7L. Thus after the arm chas I Abeen cleared by the pin 7L bearing against it and while that arm is springing back into place it cannot by-the jar or by bearing against the under side of that pin turn the disk 7.9 more than the distance of the interval between a pair of the pins, since the stop-fiange d2, being then over a pin and normally adjacent to one, will stop further turning of the disk. From the neck C75 the stud ks rides up the cam edge of the head C74. The finger cl3, by engaging the protuberance 7a', arrests the throw of the arm C7 to prevent such an extent thereof as would cause the stop-:flange d2 to clear the pin 7i it is designed to stop.

As will be seen, each coin advances in the chamber t' only one step, as it were', by cach .operation of the machine, and it takes several operations to advance a coin from the inlet w to the outlet w', from which latter it drops into the receptacle I. lows the other through the coinchamber, however, an array. of them may, and more particularly the last one inserted may always, be seen through the detective-slot m'.

On releasing the handle 7 the spring f2 re- 75 turns it with the disk 7a4, arm 7e, finger 71:7, and stud 75S to their normal positions and permits the springf to return the bell-crank lever L to its normal position. Then by in;

serting-another coin G and turning the han- 8o die Z the operation `is repeated to bring another cigar-containing chamber in the box E coincident with the discharge-chute n3, and so on till all the chambers inthe box have been emptied, when a fresh box may be sub-v stituted on the wheel D for the empty one. This change may be conveniently effected on unhooking and lowering the rear hinged section of the main case.

W'hile I have deemed it necessary to de- 9c scribe minutely the details of my improved machine, owing to the somewhat complicated nature of the operations of the mechanism, I do not limit myself to such details, as they may be variously changed Without departure from my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vending-machine, the combination of the main case having a delivery-chute and` loo a case containing a coin-chute, a rotatablysupported disk engaging said gear and carrying pins 71 an oscillatory disk having an operatinghandle, a coin chamber formed with said disks, into which said pins project and having an inlet communicating with the r lo discharge end of said coin-chute and an outlet, and means connected with said handleoperated disk for engaging a coin at said inlet with a pin h in its path to turn said pin-V carrying disk by turning said handle, substantially as described.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination of the main case having a delivery-chute and containing a rotary support for the box of articles to be vended by discharging them at 12o said chute in the rotation of said support, a rotary driving-gear for said support, a case containing a coin-chute through which the inserted coins are exposed to view, a rotatablysupported disk engaging said gear and carry- I 2 5 ing `pins 71 an oscillatory disk having an operatiiighandle, a coin-chamber formed with said disks, into which said pins project and having an inlet communicating with the discharge end of said coin-chute and an outlet 13o and means connected with said handle-operated disk for engaging a coin at said inlet As one coin fol- 7o with a pin 7a in its path to turn said pin-carrying disk b y tu rning said handle, substantially as described.

In a vendi11g-machine, the combination of the main case having a delivery-chute and containing a rotary support for the box of articles to be vended by discharging them at said chute in the rotation of said support, a rotary driving-gear for said support, a case containingacoin-chute,arotatably-supported disk engaging said gear and carrying pins 7L, an oscillatory disk having an operating-handie, and a projection 71:5 and carrying an arm 7.55 provided With a finger 7# connectedwith a controlling-sprin g f2 and a coin-chamber formed with said disks, into which said pins project and having an inlet communicating with the discharge end of said coin-chute and an outlet, substantially as described.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination of the main case having a delivery-chute and containing a rotary support for the box of articles to be vended by discharging them at said chute in the rotation of said support, a rotary driving-gear for said support, a case containing a coin-chute, a rotatably-supported disk engaging said gear and carrying pins 7i, an oscillatory disk having an operatinghandle and a projection 7t5 and carrying an arm 7c" provided with a iinger 7c"I terminating in a stud 7a8 connected with a controllingspring f2, a coin-chamber formed with said disks, into which said pins project and having an inlet communicating with the discharge end o1' said coin-chute andan outlet, a springcontrolled arm c and a spring-controlled arm c7 having a stop-Harige C72, both said arms `being engaged by said stud ks, substantially as described.

5. In a vending-machine, the combination of the main case having a delivery-chute and containing a rotary support for the box of articles to he vended by discharging them at said chute in the rotation of said support, a rotary driving-gear for said support, a case containing a coin-chute, a rotatably-supported disk engaging said gear and carrying pins 7L, an oscillatory disk having an operating-han` dle and aprojection 755 and carrying an arm 7c provided With a iinger 7J terminating in a stud 7t5 connectedwvith a controlling-spring f2, a coin-chamber formed with said disks, into which said pins project and having an inlet communicating with the discharge end of said coin-chute and an outlet, a springcontrolled bell-crank lever K having the arm e and a springcontrolled belhcrank lever L having thc"`arm c7 provided with a neck portion (75 and cam-head d carrying a stop-flange (Z2, both said arms being engaged by said stud 7J, substantially as described.

(i. In a vending-machine, the combination of the main case having a delivery-chute and containing a rotary support for the box ot articles to be vended by discharging them at said chute in the rotation oi' said support, and a rotary driving-gear for said support, a case containing a coin-chute, a rotatably-supported disk engaging said gear and carrying pins 7L', an oscillatory disk having an operatinghandle and a projection 7t5 and carrying an arm 755 provided with a iingerk7 terminating in stud 7c8 connected with a controlling-spring f2, a coin-chamber formed with said disks, into which said pins project and having an inlet communicating with the discharge end of said coin-chute and an outlet, a springcontrolled bell-crank lever K having the arm e and a spring-controlled bell-crank lever L having the arm c7 provided with the neck portion C75, cam-head c7 carrying a stop-flange (72 and stop-finger (75, both said arms being engaged by said stud 71:5, substantially as de scribed.

7. A vending-machine comprising, in combination, a main case formed of the section fr and hinged section r on a base A, a cog- Wheel D journaled in said hinged section and carrying' a disloshaped box E containing chambers n for the articles to be vended, a discharge-chute leading from said case, a pinion D meshing With said cog-wheel, comprising a case containing a coin-chute I-I, a rotary disk 7a engaging said pinion and carrying pins h, an oscillatory disk 704 having an operatinghandle 7. and a projection 705 and carrying an arm 7c provided with a linger 757 terminating in a stud 755 connected with a controlling springf2, a coin-chamber i into which said pins project and having an inlet w and an outlet zu', a spring-controlled arm e and a spring-controlled arm (7 having a stop-flange (Z2, both said arms being engaged by said stud 7:5, the Whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

R. T. SPnNcnn, DAN W. LEE.

IOO 

